Orange Cheese Cakes (Orange Tartlets)
These delightful historical 'cheesecakes' are actually elegant orange-scented tartlets featuring a rich, custard-like filling baked inside flaky puff pastry shells. The unique filling combines sponge cake crumbs, fresh cream, and eggs with the bright zest and juice of oranges, spiced delicately with cardamom and nutmeg. A classic tea-time treat from the turn of the century, these golden pastries offer a perfect balance of buttery crust and aromatic, sweet interior.
Ingredients
- 2 sheets Puff pastry (Thawed (enough to line 24 tart/muffin molds))
- 2 1/2 cups Sponge cake crumbs (Originally 'crumbs of 25 jakek (cakes)'. Estimated quantity based on standard ratios.)
- 1/2 cup Butter (Softened. Originally '1/4 seer' (approx 4 oz).)
- 1/2 cup Powdered sugar (Sifted. Originally '1/4 seer' (approx 4 oz).)
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream (Originally '1 pasher' (approx 4 oz).)
- 6 large Eggs (Separated)
- 8 teaspoons Orange juice
- 1 teaspoon Cardamom and Nutmeg powder (Mixed together)
- 2 tablespoons Orange zest or candied peel (Finely chopped. Originally '2 tolas'.)
- 2 tablespoons Butter (For greasing molds)
Instructions
- 1Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease tart tins or muffin cups generously with butter. Roll out the puff pastry and cut into circles to fit the molds. Line the molds with the pastry, trimming the edges neatly to prepare the shells.
- 2Separate the eggs. In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks thoroughly with a fork. In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks (stiff froth). Gently fold the beaten yolks and whites together.
- 3Into the egg mixture, add the softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, orange juice, cardamom-nutmeg spice mix, chopped orange peel, and cake crumbs one by one. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are combined into a uniform consistency ('ek ras').
- 4Spoon the filling into the prepared puff pastry shells. Bake in the preheated moderate oven (375°F/190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden and the filling is set. These cakes are very delicious served warm or at room temperature.